Another week, another baptism. Haha. We had a close call this weekend. So the lady that we were baptizing, was all ready for the baptism Friday night. We get up Saturday morning (the baptism was at ten) and call her to make sure shes up. She said she was up at six and ready to go. She was super excited and couldn't wait to be baptized. So Elder Shupe and I head over to the church to fill up the font at eight, and the bishop is already there with the font started and the chairs all out and everything is ready!! We're thinking "this is going to be a sweet baptism". It's starts raining (which is a good thing here in AZ because it NEVER rains) and I go outside to enjoy the rain. The phone rings around nine. It's her. I'm thinking she just wants to make sure what time she should be there. She answers "Elder Denison, I've been thinking..." OHH NOOO!!! She tells us that she doesn't think that shes ready yet, and that shes not sure if baptism would be good for her right then. We asked what made her feel she wasn't ready and she asks stuff like "What if down the road I slip and start smoking or drinking?" We told her three things in response to that:
1. Don't start drinking or smoking
2. When you're baptized you get the Holy Ghost to help you with that stuff.
and 3. Everyone slips up and that's what repentance is for.
Long story short, we convinced her to at least come to the church and see how she feels then. She shows up at ten thirty, and luckily she felt better. It ended up being a really cool baptism.
About transfers. I'm losing my trainer. Elder Shupe is being sent to pretty much his old area. I'm getting Elder Wilder (I could be wrong with the spelling). I have no clue who he is. But then again, he's a missionary, so that'll do. Elder Shupe and I are moving (well, Elder Shupe will be moving twice) tomorrow. We are moving in with a Sister Smith. I guess they're not worried about us living with a single sister. Then again, she is over ninety years old. So that's whats happening. Love you guys!
Luvz
E Denison
Feb 22, 2011
Feb 15, 2011
Scott's Email. . . .
So, a lot could be changing this next week. First of all, we are moving out of our apartment this week. Get this, so because the church has no loans and they pay everything off upfront, the church has no credit score. Because of this, the apartment complex that we are living in right now won't let us renew our lease because their lawyers want a credit score, even though the church has been paying them full ahead of time for eight years now. Dumb huh? So we're moving next week. It's a member home, and I have no clue which member. Hopefully, I'll have an address next week. But just in case, everyone just send anything you have for me to the mission home, and I'll get it eventually. It'll be slow, but I'll be sure to get it. (Mom, that means you have to change the dearelder.com thing too).
Second, our PDays are being permanently moved to Mondays. I don't know why they are doing this, but it is really going to be a pain because there is only one library in the entire valley that is open on Mondays, so every Monday it is going to be packed with missionaries trying to email home. Oh well.
Third, transfers are next week, so Elder Shupe is probably going to leave me. He's been in the area for seven months now, and President Ellsworth talked to us the other day and pretty much said that Elder Shupe was leaving.
As for how I'm doing, it's going great!! We have another baptism on saturday, and then we have them scheduled for every other week for the next month and a half. It would really be cool if they could all happen, because then we would have a baptism every two weeks for almost 3 months!! That's like triple of what the mission goal is.
Phoenix is still fun. The other night we were leaving a lesson after Elder Shupe and I got a distinct impression that we needed to get home RIGHT THEN. Which was weird, because we usually stay out until about nine, and it was only like eight thirty. So, we leave, and then as we were driving away, we hear a succession of gun shots. A few minutes later we get a call from the family that we were just at, and they asked me (Elder Shupe was driving) if we were ok. I first asked if they were all ok, and they said yeah. They then again asked if we were ok. I said, "Yeah, I'm fine, but I have no clue where Elder Shupe is. Oh well, he can handle himself." There was just dead silence on the other end of the phone, and I finally told them the truth. haha. I'm so mean!
Another interesting story that happened just last night. We have an investigator named *****. Shes been meeting with the missionaries for almost a year now. She really knows that she needs to be baptized, she just doesn't know which church is right and shes been thouroughly investigating each one (even though she told us that she loves us the most out of all the different missionaries). She was going to church like every week for a couple months before I came, but then she just stopped. Well, we've been having a lesson here and there with her, and we went over last night and had a really interesting discussion. At first we thought she was dropping us.
She said that she had a dream the other night and that she felt that it was an answer as to where she belonged. But before she told us what happened, she was really having a hard time and told us that she didn't want to offend us and she didn't want our visits to stop. She tells us, (I'm summarizing) that she had a dream where there were a ton of people being killed. She couldn't see anyone being killed, but she could hear them. Then someone she knows approaches her and tells her something. She said that he told her what she needed to do. But for some reason, she would not tell us what he said. So Elder Shupe and I are trying to to ask twenty one questions and find out whats changed.
At first I thought that the person told her not to be a mormon, because she finally started to tell us what he said. She said he said "Whatever you do. . ." and then she wouldn't finish!!! We continue asking questions like, "do you still feel like you can read from the Book of Mormon?" She replied oh yeah, definately. Ok, do you still belive that you can come to church with us? Of coarse. At this point, I am totally confused. Now I'm thinking that shes decided to become Muslim, because she said that shes been dealing with a lot of Middle Eastern people through her job and that she read a book that has really opened her eyes on the Muslim religion. But then Elder Shupe asks "Do you still believe it to be an option to be baptized by someone in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" Oh definately!
Finally, I'm like, "So what has changed?" She says, I need to be more active in doing the things you've been inviting me to do, like going to churhc, reading, and taking lessons more often from you guys. ??? We were releaved, but still confused. She never did tell us what the man in her dream told her, because she thought it would offend us. Oh well.
Another one of our investigators, one that I thought wasn't really going anywhere, had another break through. We were talking to her and her family, and she told us "Well, I've been thinking about becoming a mormon or not. The main reason why I don't is becuase I don't want to serve a mission." hahaha. We told her that she didn't have to. We are still working with her and her family, but something will come from it. It will just take more time then usual. But thats just fine.
So thats my week. I hope you guys are doing well, and I miss you all a lot. And just so you know (Kenzie and Chad), you can write me back. I want to hear from you guys!!! Luvz
E Denison
Second, our PDays are being permanently moved to Mondays. I don't know why they are doing this, but it is really going to be a pain because there is only one library in the entire valley that is open on Mondays, so every Monday it is going to be packed with missionaries trying to email home. Oh well.
Third, transfers are next week, so Elder Shupe is probably going to leave me. He's been in the area for seven months now, and President Ellsworth talked to us the other day and pretty much said that Elder Shupe was leaving.
As for how I'm doing, it's going great!! We have another baptism on saturday, and then we have them scheduled for every other week for the next month and a half. It would really be cool if they could all happen, because then we would have a baptism every two weeks for almost 3 months!! That's like triple of what the mission goal is.
Phoenix is still fun. The other night we were leaving a lesson after Elder Shupe and I got a distinct impression that we needed to get home RIGHT THEN. Which was weird, because we usually stay out until about nine, and it was only like eight thirty. So, we leave, and then as we were driving away, we hear a succession of gun shots. A few minutes later we get a call from the family that we were just at, and they asked me (Elder Shupe was driving) if we were ok. I first asked if they were all ok, and they said yeah. They then again asked if we were ok. I said, "Yeah, I'm fine, but I have no clue where Elder Shupe is. Oh well, he can handle himself." There was just dead silence on the other end of the phone, and I finally told them the truth. haha. I'm so mean!
Another interesting story that happened just last night. We have an investigator named *****. Shes been meeting with the missionaries for almost a year now. She really knows that she needs to be baptized, she just doesn't know which church is right and shes been thouroughly investigating each one (even though she told us that she loves us the most out of all the different missionaries). She was going to church like every week for a couple months before I came, but then she just stopped. Well, we've been having a lesson here and there with her, and we went over last night and had a really interesting discussion. At first we thought she was dropping us.
She said that she had a dream the other night and that she felt that it was an answer as to where she belonged. But before she told us what happened, she was really having a hard time and told us that she didn't want to offend us and she didn't want our visits to stop. She tells us, (I'm summarizing) that she had a dream where there were a ton of people being killed. She couldn't see anyone being killed, but she could hear them. Then someone she knows approaches her and tells her something. She said that he told her what she needed to do. But for some reason, she would not tell us what he said. So Elder Shupe and I are trying to to ask twenty one questions and find out whats changed.
At first I thought that the person told her not to be a mormon, because she finally started to tell us what he said. She said he said "Whatever you do. . ." and then she wouldn't finish!!! We continue asking questions like, "do you still feel like you can read from the Book of Mormon?" She replied oh yeah, definately. Ok, do you still belive that you can come to church with us? Of coarse. At this point, I am totally confused. Now I'm thinking that shes decided to become Muslim, because she said that shes been dealing with a lot of Middle Eastern people through her job and that she read a book that has really opened her eyes on the Muslim religion. But then Elder Shupe asks "Do you still believe it to be an option to be baptized by someone in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?" Oh definately!
Finally, I'm like, "So what has changed?" She says, I need to be more active in doing the things you've been inviting me to do, like going to churhc, reading, and taking lessons more often from you guys. ??? We were releaved, but still confused. She never did tell us what the man in her dream told her, because she thought it would offend us. Oh well.
Another one of our investigators, one that I thought wasn't really going anywhere, had another break through. We were talking to her and her family, and she told us "Well, I've been thinking about becoming a mormon or not. The main reason why I don't is becuase I don't want to serve a mission." hahaha. We told her that she didn't have to. We are still working with her and her family, but something will come from it. It will just take more time then usual. But thats just fine.
So thats my week. I hope you guys are doing well, and I miss you all a lot. And just so you know (Kenzie and Chad), you can write me back. I want to hear from you guys!!! Luvz
E Denison
Feb 13, 2011
A little Arizona Randomness
"Elder Hay, a missionary in my district, pretty much already has a wife. She sent him this really awkward picture.
Another AZ Sunset
Brother Padilla, the ward mission leader. He is an awesome guy.
The map we made of our district.
The Light Show
Missionaries need entertainment too right? Why go somewhere to be entertained when you can make your own light show in the bathroom sink? Or tease a dog with a laser? Elder Denison and Elder Shupe star in their very own light show. I don't think this is the last you'll be seeing of these two talented young men!
Feb 8, 2011
Email of the Week
Hey guys.
So, I guess according to some people (don't worry, Jenny, I won't name names ), my letters haven't been enough about me. They've just been about what baptisms are coming up. Well, BAPTISMS ARE KINDA ALL I'M CONCENTRATING ON RIGHT NOW!!! haha I'm just kidding. I've been doing great. It's a really fun area and I'm getting into the swing of things nicely. This morning I got up and ditched my companion (don't worry, he was with other elders and so was I) and hiked up
The other picture is of the baptism we had Saturday. Her dad and step mom are less actives that we've reactivated. They're a super cool family. One of the little girls is so awesome. So We tell Nick the Dad that he should say the opening prayer for the lesson that night. He agrees, and then sits there thinking about what he wants to say. Marrisa (the seven-year-old) asks him, "Daddy, do you need me to help you?" It was so hard not to burst out laughing! This family has pretty much adopted us. There have been some nights (I am ashamed of this) that we've been super apostate and just spent 3 or 4 hours there. And we sat next to them in church, and I'm also sorry to say that I spent all sacrament meeting playing with their little girl. Oh well, I need some friends while I'm out here. haha
Also that day we were attacked. Don't worry, we weren't hurt. We were stopped at a stop light when suddenly we hear this loud crash. It was kind of funny the two different reactions between Elder Shupe and I. I start looking around and am about ready to get out of the car. I see that there are these two homeless guys fighting with each other (so they didn't actually attack us) and one threw a rock at the other, completely missed, and hit our car. I don't know why, but this made me super mad and I was about to get out and start yelling at both of them. But the next thing I know, Elder Shupe is pulling away!! It was probably a good thing though. After we got out we looked at where the rock had hit and amazingly there was only a small scratch on the bumper. It was pretty impressive considering how fragile new cars are. Maybe mission vehicles are protected just like missionaries? haha
Anyways, thats my week. I love you guys so much!! Hope to hear from all of you soon
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